Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

Original post by MeladoriDawn

Mar 22, 2004 10:17 AM

Hi everyone,

I like many other newbies have been reading your posts and using them to guide me in the right direction. You guys have been on the money so far. But I still haven't found 'the place'! So, I've decided to make my first post because I feel like I must be missing something.

In LI (Nassau), I've visited:
Swan Club - unprofessional, grounds A+
Sans Souci - great, but tight
Harbor Club - bankruptcy problems?!?! nice otherwise.
Woodbury CC - a step up from the swan, again nice grounds, lots of space, but something shady about the staff
North Ritz Club - so beautiful and modern, a bit big gor my # of guests
George Washington Manor - nice for a brunch or day wedding, kind of country with eh food.

Impossible Mission?
115 guests (125 to stretch it if need be) Sunday PM $75-95pp
1-2 weddings at a time
Want something elegant, not all events in the same room, some nice grounds at least, a separate chapel area would be great. Between April/October of '05

I'm thinking of moving the search north to New Rochelle in Westchester. Fountainhead, Surf Club, VIP, and Glenn Island look really nice and sound like they have good food. But are they in my price range???

Is there anyone with Westchester exp. they can share or know any more LI (Nassau) places? Any help would be wonderful b/c this is driving me nuts and I may drive up to Westchester today but is it worth it? Please post or FM me if you have any ideas...If you have any questions about the places I've seen I'd be happy to share too!

bacibaci Posted: May 04, 2004 08:36 PM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

Not to sound repetitive but, based on what you're looking for I would recommend Fountainhead, VIP or Surf Club for Westchester. I priced out Sat. night weddings in July '05 so any price info would be irrelevant but definitely check into them for a Sunday. As far as LI, try North Ritz Club, Jericho Terrace, Sandcastle & Fox Hollow. They'll probably be within your price range & have modern facilities that sound like they'll meet your needs. I've been to weddings at all of these halls & didn't have a single complaint except at Jericho Terrace they don't have Malibu rum, just generic coconut rum LOL. But if that's the worst complaint I don't think that's too bad. Hope this helps!

fairylise Posted: May 04, 2004 09:30 PM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

i think that if you are willing to be open to dates you will be able to find your price range at the clubs in new rochelle. i am from the area and know that you can get good deals for the surf club and vip- also the greentree country club on that strip is very fairly prices and has an old mansion look about it- also very nice. the fountain head and glen island i would say are a little out of you price range however like i said if yu work w/ certain days of the year, you can get a great price if you really love a place! good luck!

BriBri529 Posted: May 04, 2004 10:12 PM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

Posted by shelzyp

My wedding was at Villa Lombardi's on Sunday , I guarnteed 120, and it was about 100 pp with tax and gratuity.

us also . . .it will be anyway . . .

I was thinking you might also want to try Captain Bill's in Bayshore, East Wind in Wading River, and the Port Jeff CC . . . the last two may be too far out east for you?

Good Luck

MrHostility Posted: May 04, 2004 11:06 PM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

Posted by MeladoriDawn

Thank you so much for your thoughts everybody! I cannot wait to get this done!!!! You're all so helpful!

Yes, I made a long thread, and saw many many halls. I didn't see any mansions though.

It seems you don't want to go to suffolk.

I was told I'd need over 100 people for friday night at North Ritz, so it must hold a decent amount.

You could try, Areca in Plainview, I heard it is very nice. Maybe Cresent Beach, or Riviera(I didn't have a nice experience visiting there). I don't know their prices though.

IreneinChicago Posted: May 05, 2004 12:09 AM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

I know you mentioned you weren't looking in suffolk. We weren't either. Started in the city and 27 places ended up at the Vanderbilt Mansion. It was further than we planned, but we really liked everything it had to offer. I convinced myself that I get married once in a life time. The guests who want to be there will. Great food, fabulous location, 1 wedding at a time, and you get the run of the place. Only good if you like the mansion setting. If you are looking for modern definately not a good option.

lilmrs Posted: May 05, 2004 08:00 AM

x

Leap29 Posted: May 05, 2004 08:43 AM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

i don't want to give you bad news, but all of the places in westchester were over $100pp (actually with tax, etc..it comes out to about $200pp)...

most of the places have a minimum of 125 ppl for a room (at least for saturdays & sundays)...our wedding was at glen island harbour club...it was amazing...

all of the suggestions that the girls have made for places in long island sound great...definitely check them out...

good luck!

jessnyc711 Posted: May 05, 2004 09:52 AM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

Wow, I think a lot of us have been through what you are going through, I know it's out in Suffolk, but I liked the feel of the Watermill over all of the other Scotto Brother locations, but again, I would highly consider NRC-I think it has everything that you need-but depending on what night you are having your event, you would have to meet their minimum, mine is 100 guests for a Sunday event.

FLaCaTaCa Posted: May 05, 2004 10:03 AM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

Get a 'Locations' book and just search and call! Good Luck!

DecBride04 Posted: May 05, 2004 10:08 AM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

The Riviera in Massapequa is less than $100 a head. They have beautiful grounds. If you are planning a spring/summer wedding, they have the huge deck outdoors for the Cocktail Hour on the Water. For 115 guest, just perfect. We are having 125 and will fit just nice. Worth looking into, the food is great, they just even up graded their menu. The staff all are very nice and accomidating. Good luck!

PlanningFromATL Posted: May 05, 2004 10:29 AM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

I second the Metropolitan.......

ssdare Posted: May 05, 2004 10:36 AM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

I also live in Manhattan and looked for reasonable and elegant places in NYC, New Rochelle area and ended up choosing Vanderbilt Mansion (I didn't look at any other places in LI). The Vanderbilt is just over the border of Nassau into Suffolk county and 1 1/2 hour drive from Manhattan. I highly recommend at least taking a look at the website to see pictures. It has a beautiful glass conservatory for the ceremony and a beautiful ballroom and a separate room for the cocktail hour. Also if you have good weather the grounds are beautiful and you could do the ceremony and cocktails outdoors.

eogara Posted: May 05, 2004 10:37 AM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

I see that this post was bumped by someone other than you MeladoriDawn so I'm not sure you're even still looking in Westchester. But, if you are, you should check out The Phillipsburg Performing Arts Center. It looks incredible and their pricing seems very reasonable. Just so you know, in most cases April is usually the last discount month until January so that may be helpful in your negotiations.

nferrandi Posted: May 05, 2004 10:57 AM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

I saw that someone suggested you look into The Crescent and I just wanted to let you know that it's over your price range. It's a beautiful place if you decide to up your budget.

90304bride Posted: May 05, 2004 05:10 PM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

Abigail Kirsch
Amazing place and well-known chef.

www.abigailkirsch.com

MrHostility Posted: May 05, 2004 05:26 PM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

You also might try one of the botanical gardens...I think one in the city or there around has a really nice setup. However $ could be an issue.

mirla122 Posted: May 05, 2004 11:24 PM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

If you want to know, Russo on the By is not more that $100 pp. Can't remeber excatly how much they quoted me for a Saturday evening wedding, but I was thinking iw would be more too and it wasn't.

martie331 Posted: May 06, 2004 10:52 AM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

Does the Woodlands have a website? Do you have to know someone to have a function there?

BCTM33 Posted: May 06, 2004 10:58 AM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

The Whitby Castle is Westchester is really nice and their food is great. I don't know all the details, but you should call them.

Did you look at the Bridegview Yacht Club and DeSeversky's?